Sermon Central
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An Excellent Wife Series
Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: 1) The basic matter of the submission (Ephesians 5:22a), then with its 2) Manner & Motive (Ephesians 5:22b-23a), as well as the 3) Model (Ephesians 5:23b-24).
• The “head” (kephalç) here is referring metaphorically to “authority” (see also Eph. 1:22; 5:23; Col. 2:10). As with the authority of Christ over the church, this is not the self-centered exercise of power but leadership that takes care to serve the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of the wife. ( cf. Mark 10:44–45; Eph. 5:23, 25–30) (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2206). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)
As verse 24 concludes, just as the church submits/is subject to Christ, so also wives should submit/ought to be in everything to their husbands. Christ, not husbands, must be the ultimate authority (cf. Matt. 10:34–39). This verse does not chain a believing wife to an abusive husband nor does it condone evil actions or deeds demanded by an authoritarian husband (Utley, R. J. (1997). Paul Bound, the Gospel Unbound: Letters from Prison (Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon, then later, Philippians) (Vol. Volume 8, p. 130). Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International.).
To follow God’s plan for the family not only is pleasing to Him but is the only way to godlier, happier, and more secure homes. His plan is neither for the exaltation of man and suppression of woman nor the exaltation of woman and suppression of man, but for the perfection and fulfillment of both man and woman as He has ordained them to be. Such perfection and fulfillment is made possible by the filling of the Holy Spirit. Paul develops between marriage and the relationship between Christ and the church, with the woman being asked to submit to the husband in the way the church submits to her head, Christ (i.e. responding to his love, joyfully, and out of heartfelt desire, not grudgingly or under compulsion) (Carson, D. A., France, R. T., Motyer, J. A., & Wenham, G. J. (Eds.). (1994). New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1242). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.).
(Format note: Outline & some base commentary from MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (pp. 279–291). Chicago: Moody Press.)
